Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova launched an attack on Greece and Europe, responding to accusations that Moscow is undermining European security.
Responding to Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen—who claimed Russia had breached all ten principles of the Helsinki Accords—Zakharova dismissed the assertion as a “blatant lie.” She countered that Western nations are the true violators of the landmark 1975 agreement that governs relations between sovereign states.
Zakharova then listed ten alleged Western violations. Her examples included NATO’s 1999 bombing of Yugoslavia without UN approval, the existence of CIA black sites in Lithuania, Poland, and Romania, and alleged Western backing for the 2014 Maidan protests in Ukraine.
Targeting Greek policy
Among her cited examples, Zakharova directly targeted Greece, citing the “role of Greece’s military junta in the Cyprus crisis of 1974,” which she described as an “attempt to annex the island.”
She also highlighted the long-standing naming dispute between Athens and Skopje, noting that Greece “blocked international initiatives” intended to foster cooperation with the Republic of North Macedonia until 2018. “Until 2018, Greece blocked international initiatives that were intended to foster cooperation with the Republic of Macedonia (due to an unresolved dispute over its name),” she stated.
The Helsinki Accords, signed on August 1, 1975, in Helsinki, Finland, marked the conclusion of the first Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE, now the OSCE). Designed to ease Cold War tensions, 35 nations signed the accords- every European country except Albania, as well as the US and Canada.
They recognized the post-World War II frontiers in Europe and committed signatories to respect human rights, fundamental freedoms, and cooperation in economic, scientific, and humanitarian fields.
Greece responds to Russia
The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not officially respond to Zakharova’s accusations, but diplomatic sources in Athens stressed that the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974 remains an open wound for Hellenism and constitutes a blatant violation of international law, with consequences that continue to burden the international community.
At the same time, Athens reminds that the July 15, 1974 coup has been unequivocally condemned by all democratically elected governments of Greece, while highlighting the long-standing international recognition of the Cyprus issue as one of invasion and occupation.
In light of these facts, Greece’s response to the Kremlin underscores the importance of resolving disputes peacefully — as demonstrated in the case of North Macedonia — and highlights the historical significance of the 1975 Helsinki Final Act, which established the principles of peaceful coexistence and cooperation between states.
Related: What Has Russia Ever Done For Greece?
